Elementary School Principal Alleges Age, Gender, and Race Discrimination
October 20, 2023
The Whiting Elementary School principal has filed a lawsuit against the Manchester school superintendent, alleging repeated age, gender, and race discrimination for more than a year, along with attempts to force retirement and retaliation for filing a grievance. The plaintiff has worked for the school district since 1999, becoming principal of Whiting Elementary in July 2012. The superintendent took office in February 2022.
According to the lawsuit, the suit also names other district administrators and the Manchester Board of Education (BOE), all of whom did nothing about her complaints of the superintendent’s behavior.
The principal claims the harassment began in August 2022, when she declined the superintendent’s suggestion that she transfer to serve as principal of Manchester Elementary. The only African American female administrator in the district, she states the superintendent repeatedly insisted she transfer, continually citing that, as an African American, she would be better suited to the school’s minority population. Additionally, she alleges the superintendent ordered her to audit preschool books for better diversity, stating, “…books in classrooms that are representative of people who look like you.”
The principal’s refusal to transfer led to her first-ever negative performance review, which she contested and filed a grievance. She claims that the superintendent then began a campaign urging her to retire and various attempts to prevent her from filing the grievance.
She further states that the superintendent and other administrators retaliated against the grievance filing by making scheduling changes that negatively impacted students, claimed the principal’s staff incorrectly filled out paperwork, that she did not reprimand staff who missed work, and took away her office, turning it into a room for special needs students.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensation and requires that all defendants undergo discrimination training to address age, gender, and racial bias and to address their retaliation.
If you are experiencing discrimination at work, contact Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. for help. Call 215-569-1999 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we serve clients in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey.
